Respiratory outcomes of neonates born after previable premature rupture of membranes and treated with gentle ventilation.

Objective: We aim to describe neonatal respiratory outcomes following previable preterm premature rupture of membranes(PPROM) when gentle ventilation is utilized. We also report maternal morbidity and mortality.

Study Design: This is a retrospective single-center cohort study of infants delivered between 2016 and 2020 that included infants born at ≥23 weeks without major congenital anomaly after a pregnancy complicated with PPROM before 23 weeks gestation. Statistical analysis utilized unpaired Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test when appropriate.

Results: 35 infants from 33 pregnancies were included. 91.4% of infants survived until discharge and 12.1% developed Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD). Those who developed BPD had significantly lower amniotic fluid levels prior to delivery (p < 0.05). There was no significant maternal morbidity or mortality in this cohort.

Conclusion: This cohort had high survival and low rates of respiratory morbidities. This suggests the use of gentle ventilation might be the optimal strategy for patients born after previable PPROM.